Shatta Wale, born Charles Nii Armah Mensah Jr is a controversial Ghanaian reggae- dancehall musician formerly known as Bandana.

Early Life

Shatta Wale was born on October 17, 1984, to Charles Nii Armah Mensah Sr, a politician, businessman and legal practitioner and Elsie Evelyn Avemegah. He lived with his family in Laterbiokoshie, Dansoman and later moved to Korle Gonno.

Shatta revealed in a Facebook post that he didn’t have the love of his mother at an early age because a pastor caused the separation of his parents which ended up with him living with his father and later on the street.

He revealed that he lived in all the ghettos in Accra, Nima precisely in order to survive.

READ ALSO: Shatta Michy opens up on issue with Shatta Wale

Education

He had his primary education as Seven Great Princess Academy at Dansoman in Accra and later was forced by his father to continue his education at Winneba Secondary School in the Central Region.

Shatta lost interest in schooling because he wanted to concentrate on his music career but his father was not supportive because he wanted his son to be a lawyer. This led to a misunderstanding between father and son and left home to survive on his own.

Career

Shatta Wale’s music career began when he was in high school, where he was known as Doggy. After high school, he released his first hit single “Moko Hoo” which features Tinny in 2004 and that earned him a nomination at the 2004 Ghana Music Awards.

He also released “No Problem” and “Obaa Yaa” that same year which received massive airplay.

He was inactive in the music scene for some years after releasing “My Eyes Pon The Money” and later rebranded as Shatta Wale in 2013.

Shatta released songs like ‘Shatta City’, ‘Enter The Net’, and ‘Dancehall King’ which became his biggest hit after rebranding. This hit song gave him the title Dancehall King and his songs have been well received by Ghanaians and fans around the globe.

Wale has numerous songs to his credit and is currently signed under Zylophone Music with a $1.5m recording and management deal with a mansion and Rolls Royce.

READ ALSO: Wizkid calls Shatta Wale a king

Awards

The Dancehall King has a lot of awards to his credit and below are few:

1.Best Reggae/Dancehall video at the 2013 4syte Tv music video awards.

2. African Artiste of the year at the 2014 Nigerian Entertainment Awards.

3. Best performer of the year at the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards.

4. Publisher’s Choice Award at the 2015 3G Awards.

5. People’s Choice Male Musician at the 2015 GN Bank Awards.

6. Best Song of the year (Kakai) at the 2015 Africa Europe DJ Awards in Italy

7. Music Producer of the year at the 2016 Ghana Music Awards UK

8. Ultimate People’s Celebrity at the 2017 People’s Celebrity Awards

9. Best Dancehall Act at 2018, African Entertainment Awards, US

10. Best Song at the 2018 Ghana Entertainment Awards, US.

Endorsements

Shatta Wale became the brand Ambassador for Guinness Ghana Breweries in 2014 and the brand ambassador for Rush Energy Drink.

He was also unveiled as the brand ambassador for Kasapreko company in September 2017 and in November 2017 signed a deal with Boss Baker Beef Roll as their brand ambassador.

Family

Shatta Wale has a daughter from his previous relationship named Cherissa Mensah, a son who is in London with his mum and another son with his current girlfriend, Diamond Michelle also known as Shatta Michy, named Majesty Nii Armah Mensah.

Currently, Shatta Wale has three children from three different women. He revealed in an interview that he is still with Shatta Michy because she believes in his hustle and checks on him to save enough money.

Shatta recently proposed to Shatta Michy at his Reign Concert on October 13 at the Fantasy Dome and the two are expected to get married next year.

Philanthropy

Shatta Wale has embarked on many philanthropy works where he visited the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in 2014 to donate some items to the children’s block.

He also donated water, food, antiseptic and clothes to the fire and flood victims of the June 3rd disaster in Accra.

He also donated some items to the Police Hospital in Accra on February 8, 2016. The items included wheelchairs, beverages, 3 LED Tvs, detergents and an undisclosed amount of money to save the life of a young girl.

Wale also donated books to support Nana Aba Anamoah’s Raising Readers Ghana Foundation.

Shatta Wale is referred to as the Tupac of Africa. Recently his “Reign Album” was listed on the Billboard’s World Album Chart and it is number 6 on the chart. The album launch can be described as a successful event which saw venue filled with over a thousand patrons.

Shatta Wale can be described as a person with an outspoken character which some refer to him as arrogant and cocky.